Even as Americans make significant progress toward paying off credit cards, mortgages, and other personal debts that skyrocketed in the aftermath of the Great Recession, one credit category has been left behind in the nation’s slow-developing economic recovery: student loans.

Student loan debt now tops $1 trillion, and represents a serious threat to the broader economy. While the most direct solution to the crisis — more abundant, better-paying jobs for college graduates — is still out of reach, students do have options for earning a college degree without burying themselves in debt. This infographic, from Best Value Schools, lays out some strategies for getting a degree without going broke:

Image compliments of Best Value Schools